Journey drummer Deen Castronovo has left the band’s current tour to address health concerns, weeks after suffering a medical emergency on stage in Tulsa. The band has not detailed the exact nature of his condition.
Steve Murphy will take over on drums for the remainder of Journey’s November dates while Castronovo recovers.
Read the full story at Billboard.
Music publisher Reservoir has broadened its copyright infringement lawsuits against AI companies Suno and Anthropic, now covering more than 2,500 songs combined. The expanded claims build on legal action Reservoir first filed against both companies in October.
The move adds Reservoir to a growing list of publishers and labels challenging AI firms over the alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted lyrics and compositions to train generative models. The outcome of these cases could shape licensing terms between the music industry and AI developers going forward.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.
Distributor Symphonic has signed an agreement to place hundreds of thousands of songs from its roster onto Roblox, with artists set to earn royalties on every play within the platform.
The deal expands the growing push by music companies to monetize gaming platforms as a distribution channel, giving independent artists and labels working with Symphonic a new revenue stream tied to listener engagement inside Roblox’s environment.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.
AZTEC, the joint venture label founded by Az Cohen in partnership with Believe, has signed its first artist. The label was launched in May as Believe’s first US joint venture.
The signing marks an early milestone for the partnership as Believe continues to expand its footprint in the American market through targeted label deals.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.
Sony Music has signed a new multi-year licensing agreement with NetEase Cloud Music, the companies announced Friday (November 13). The renewal keeps Sony’s catalog available on the Chinese streaming platform.
With the Sony deal in place, NetEase Cloud Music has now renewed licensing agreements with all three major music companies heading into 2026, underscoring the platform’s continued role as a key distribution partner for major labels in the Chinese market.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.
Music Business Worldwide’s latest weekly round-up covers a new agreement between Sony Music and a Chinese partner, along with TikTok’s signing of reggaeton pioneer Daddy Yankee. The digest also touches on YouTube’s renewed involvement with Billboard, among other developments across the industry.
The round-up reflects continued activity among major labels and platforms as they pursue regional partnerships and artist deals tied to short-form video and streaming growth.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.
Toronto singer-songwriter Murray McLauchlan has released “ReCovered,” a double album of newly recorded versions of 22 of his best-known songs, out now on Borealis Music. The project includes fresh takes on “Down by the Henry Moore,” “The Farmer’s Song” and “Child’s Song,” alongside tracks such as “Honky Red,” “Hard Rock Town” and “Swingin’ On A Star.”
According to the announcement, McLauchlan undertook the re-recordings after the catalogue holding his original master recordings was sold without his consultation, a move that echoes similar re-recording projects by other artists in recent years. He co-produced the album with multi-instrumentalist Vezi Tayyeb at Toronto’s Kensington Sound Studios between January and July 2026, with a backing band that includes drummer Al Cross, pedal steel and dobro player Burke Carroll and bassist Victor Bateman. Marc Jordan and Cindy Church, former bandmates from McLauchlan’s Lunch at Allen’s songwriting collective, contribute background vocals.
McLauchlan signed to True North Records in 1970 and has won 11 JUNO Awards from 23 nominations over his career. He is a Member of the Order of Canada, a recipient of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, and was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022.
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Eric Alper, thatericalper.com.
Eran Hersh, Aycond and NOTHANKYOU have released “Sambei,” an Afro House collaboration out via MoBlack Records on November 6. The track is currently number one on the Beatport Afro House chart, according to the announcement.
The release is built around layered percussion and repeating vocal motifs, with the label describing a production that favors subtle rhythmic shifts over dramatic drops. The track’s arrangement emphasizes groove and repetition, with percussion placed at the center of the mix.
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Valentina Vistoli, valentinavistoli.com.
Electronic producer Active Systems has released The Blue EP, a four-track follow-up to September’s The Red EP, via Split Lip Records. The project continues to work in stark electro and fractured machine rhythms, according to the announcement.
In a statement, the artist described the new EP as a “fresh descendant” of the first release, saying it carries a different sound and a faster pace while taking longer to put together. The label frames the record as part of a broader exploration that blends melodic elements with harder mechanical textures.
Active Systems has also begun performing live, including a debut appearance at Houghton Festival closing The Warehouse stage with an audio-visual set, as well as shows at London’s Lost and Berlin’s Superbooth, according to the announcement.
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Neil Bainbridge | Neighbourhood, neighbourhoodpr.com.
Ukrainian production duo Woo York have released the two-track “Levitate EP” via Watergate Records, marking a return to the Berlin label after a long history together. The EP, comprising “Warlock” and “Levitate,” leans into a stripped-back, deep techno sound built around hypnotic loops and 303 basslines, according to the announcement.
Duo members Denys Andriyanov and Andrew Vanzhula, who have worked together for nearly two decades, describe the release as reflective of their current creative direction, prioritizing subtlety and repetition over complexity. The title track incorporates more melodic and atmospheric elements, while “Warlock” focuses on minimal 303-driven production.
Watergate Records says the reunion with Woo York reflects a longstanding relationship between the duo and the label, both in the studio and on the club floor. The “Levitate EP” is out now.
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Simon Tillotson, neighbourhoodpr.com.